Oxidation behavior of 3D Hi-Nicalon/SiC composite

Oxidation behavior of a three dimensional (3D) Hi-Nicalon/SiC composite with CVD SiC coating was investigated in the simulated air using a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) device. Below 1100 °C, the oxidation kinetics was controlled by gas diffusion through the defects in the SiC matrix and coating and resulted in the consumption of PyC interphase. The residual flexural strength did have not a remarkable fluctuation and the relationship between the residual strength to temperature and weight change to temperature of the 3D Hi-Nicalon/PyC/SiC composite indicated the same regularity. Above 1200 °C, the oxidation kinetics was controlled by oxygen diffusion through the SiO₂ scale formed on the SiC coating and matrix. And the residual flexural strength of the composites was governed by the strength degradation of the Hi-Nicalon fiber. After oxidation, the fracture displacement in flexural tests increased with the weight loss increasing and the fracture mode showed a non-brittle pattern.